India, Feb. 16 -- First, was the buzz of anticipation. Then, the dampener in the form of a brazen boycott that was never going to fly. After this, eventuated hectic back-channel parleying to try and help facilitate a face-saving about-turn. This was followed by a collective sigh of huge relief when the boycott threat was withdrawn to ensure that the most eagerly awaited clash of the T20 World Cup would go ahead as scheduled. The denouement - an absolute damp squib that has taken further sheen off what once used to be a storied, celebrated rivalry.

India came into Sunday's showdown against Pakistan in Colombo sitting on a five-match winning streak spread over three and a half years. That's how little the teams play each other in both whit...